This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2769, to be answered on December 17, 2025, regarding the withdrawal of refunds deposited in IRCTC e-wallets. The question, posed by Shri Janardan Singh Sigriwal, asks whether funds deposited in the IRCTC e-wallet via UPI and other modes of payments cannot be transferred back to the user's account after ticket cancellation, whether the government proposes to provide a withdrawal facility, and whether the government proposes to provide interest benefits on idle amounts in the e-wallet.
Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology (Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw) answers that the IRCTC e-wallet is a prepayment account under the closed system PPI (Prepaid Payment instruments) category. As per RBI guidelines, closed system PPI accounts facilitate the purchase of goods and services from that entity only, and cash withdrawals are not permitted. The deposited amount can be used only for purchasing train tickets. The IRCTC will transfer the E-Wallet balance back to the user's bank account at the time of closure of the E-Wallet account for existing and new e-wallet users.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC): The entity responsible for the IRCTC e-wallet and the subject of the policy regarding refund withdrawals and interest on deposited funds.
RBI Guidelines: Guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India relevant to the operation and restrictions on Closed system PPI accounts.
Ministry of Railways: The ministry to which the question is addressed regarding the IRCTC e-wallet.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2769
TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025
WITHDRAWAL OF REFUND DEPOSITED IN IRCTC E-WALLET
2769. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the funds/amount deposited to Indian Railway
Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) e-wallet by consumer for quick
booking of rail tickets through UPI and other mode of payments cannot
transfer the money back to their account even after cancellation of ticket
due to which their money gets stuck for a long time and use only when they
book ticket and if so, the reasons therefor;
(b) whether the Government has any proposal to provide withdrawal facility
of funds deposited in IRCTC e-wallet to their account or original source
through which it credited so that the customer's money does not get stuck
for a long time and they can use this fund elsewhere and if so, the details
thereof; and
(c) if not, whether the Government proposes to provide interest benefits to
consumer on idle amount lying in their e-wallet and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (c) Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) E-
Wallet account is a pre-payment under closed system PPI (Prepaid
Payment instruments) category account.As per extant RBI Guidelines, Closed system PPI account issued by
any entity facilitates the purchase of Goods and Services from that
entity only. Also, cash withdrawals are not permitted from such
accounts. The amount deposited in this account can be used only for
purchase of Train tickets.
It has been decided by IRCTC that for existing and new E-Wallet users,
IRCTC shall transfer back the E-Wallet balance proceeds to the user’s
bank account at the time of closure of the E-Wallet account.
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